Posted By Tina Grady Barbaccia On March 25, 2011 @ 8:56 pm In People News,Trade Show Coverage | No Comments

Kristine Young, the chief executive officer of Des Moines, Iowa-based Miller the Driller, became the first-ever woman to lead the U.S. construction industry as she was sworn in as president of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) on March 25 in Las Vegas.

Young, CEO of Miller the Driller, will oversee the trade group’s work on behalf of the commercial construction industry.

“I’m humbled that this association has always treated me as a fellow contractor that happens to be a woman, instead of a woman that happens to be a contractor,” said Young. “Being the first is never about being alone, it took the time energy and encouragement of many people to get me here today.”

As president, Young will oversee the association’s efforts to advocate for measures to boost demand for construction activity by enacting pro-growth tax and trade policies and making much-needed investments to the nation’s aging infrastructure.

She will also work to overturn a new measure that forces governments at all levels to withhold 3 percent of the value of all major construction contracts beginning next year, something she notes will add to an unemployment rate for the industry that already is just more than 20 percent.

In addition to Young, the association also inaugurated on March 25 three other top leaders in the organization.

Paul Diederich, president of Industrial Builders, West Fargo, N.D., became the association’s vice president.

Howard Pebley, president of McAllen Construction, McAllen, Texas, became the association’s treasurer. The three contractors will support Young in leading the trade group during their year-long tenure in office.